Controlling fluid operations for machine systems

ABSTRACT

A system for controlling a post-lubrication fluid operation of a machine is disclosed. The system includes at least one pump of the machine, a fluid maintenance system and a control system. The fluid maintenance system includes at least one memory device and at least one processor configured to access the memory device. The memory device stores machine data and a fluid operation service schedule. The control system is electrically coupled to the at least one pump and the fluid maintenance system, includes at least one processor and is configured to control the post-lubrication operation of the machine based on at least one of the following (1) the machine data and (2) the fluid operation service schedule.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of the earlierfiling date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/206,402, entitledCONTROLLING FLUID OPERATIONS FOR MACHINE SYSTEMS, filed Mar. 12, 2014,which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the earlier filingdate of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/852,260, entitledCONTROLLING FLUID OPERATIONS FOR MACHINE SYSTEMS, filed on Mar. 15,2013, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

Machines such as diesel engine systems used in connection withconstruction equipment, earth-moving equipment, transportation equipment(e.g., locomotives) and the like, are often implemented in adverseoperating conditions. Typical operating conditions for such equipmentcan require extensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul work to sustainthe equipment and its components, including the engine systems. As aconsequence of these adverse equipment operating conditions, certainequipment components may be exhausted long before the expected end oftheir useful lives. Such component exhaustion can occur despite effortsto ensure proper component installation and maintenance, includingperiodic maintenance of equipment oil supply and lubrication systems, aswell as other fluid systems.

Extensive and premature wear of large-capacity diesel engines, forexample, can be caused by a combination of factors, including poorfiltration and contamination of fluids, inadequate lubrication ofcomponents prior to engine ignition, failure to adhere to prescribedmaintenance schedules, failure to collect and analyze data associatedwith equipment operation, system malfunction, general misuse of theequipment, and other factors. Downtime costs for processing fluidoperations for heavy machinery and other machine fluid systems can besubstantial. Accordingly, if downtime for maintenance in such machinescan be minimized, then substantial economic benefits often result.

In view of the issues described above, improved strategies, techniques,methods, and systems are needed for processing and/or filtering thefluids employed in machine fluid systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a fluid filtrationapparatus structured in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 1A schematically illustrates a supplemental pump connected forfluid communication with a main pump of a machine;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a fluid filtrationapparatus structured in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B schematically illustrate alternative embodiments of anexample of a fluid filtration apparatus structured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of a fluid filtrationapparatus structured in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 5 includes a process flow diagram illustrating an example ofprocessing various filter triggering conditions in accordance withcertain embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 includes a schematic depicting various examples of datacommunication and data processing in accordance with various embodimentsof the invention;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates various examples of fluid reservoir andpump combinations that may be employed in association with variousembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view in partially schematic form of an engine that maybe employed in connection with various embodiments of the invention,with portions broken away or not shown for convenience of disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of a starter and a pre-ignition oil pumpmechanism structured for use in connection with the engine of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 includes a schematic representation of an example of a fluidmaintenance system structured in association with certain embodiments ofthe invention;

FIG. 11 includes a process flow diagram illustrating examples of fluidmaintenance processes that may be performed in association with certainembodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 12 includes an electrical schematic illustrating certain aspects ofthe electrical operation of an example of a fluid maintenance systemconfigured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the invention reflect that the inventor has developedenhanced fluid filtration methods, system, and techniques that canleverage the function of a supplemental pump in conjunction with theexisting components of a machine, such as the main pump of a machinewith an engine, for example. In various embodiments, a supplementalfilter apparatus may be operatively associated with the supplementalpump and/or a main pump of the machine to provide filtration of fluidflowing through the machine. The filtered fluid can then be returned toone or more fluid reservoirs of the machine through an appropriate fluidcommunication path. In addition, in certain embodiments a control modulemay be employed in operative association with the supplemental pump, oneor more components of the machine, and/or a valve system or valvearrangement. The control module may be programmed to activate ordeactivate the supplemental pump, for example, in association withdetecting the existence of one or more kinds of filter triggeringconditions. Such filter triggering conditions may be associated with acondition of the fluid (e.g., viscosity or the presence ofcontaminants), an operational state of one or more components themachine (e.g., engine speed or main pump pressure), occurrence of apredetermined event (e.g., a fixed time), and/or a variety of otherpotential triggering conditions or events. One or more sensors may beoperatively associated with the control module to detect and to providesignals indicative of machine conditions or fluid conditions inconnection with operation of the machine or the supplemental pump, forexample. In various embodiments, operation of the supplemental pump mayprovide the function or effect of a “kidney loop” arrangement, as thatterm is understood by those skilled in the art of performing fluidprocesses or other maintenance on machines, including heavy machinery.In certain embodiments, a main pump of machine may operate independentlyand/or in conjunction with the supplemental pump to perform variouskidney loop or other filtering operations as described in more detailherein. In various embodiments, a supplemental pump may include apre-lubrication pump, for example. In other embodiments, a supplementalpump may include an electric pump, such as the electric oil pump of amachine, for example.

The inventor has realized that machines that require filtered fluidsoften cannot effectively filter smaller particle sizes due to the factthat fine filtration media require either substantially high pressureacross the filter, which can cause excessive parasitic power losses.Such fine filter media often require a substantial amount ofinstallation space within the machine, which can cause unacceptably highfilter manufacturing and disposal costs, and adds weight and size to themachine design. In addition, filter media may not allow through-flowsufficient to provide the fluid pressure needed to adequately lubricatethe machine components. Therefore, equipment designers have usuallycompromised by using a coarse filter media that delivers adequate flowbut only removes relatively larger particles from fluid. Also, certainequipment manufacturers have designed machines that direct a smallamount of fluid flow through a fine filter media with the intent thatmost fluid in the machine will eventually pass through the fine filter.However, fine particles are constantly being created or introduced intothe fluid system, and the particles are typically present in greaterconcentrations than desired. In certain situations, to maximize thepressure drop across the fine filter media, equipment designers haveconnected the outlet of the filter media to a low pressure zone (e.g.,an engine sump). But since this fluid flow is not being supplied to thesystem needing lubrication, the main pump must be oversized to producethe excess flow. Various embodiments of the present invention can bestructured to generate such excess flow only as needed to maintain adesired level of particle count, for example, or when the parasiticpower required can be produced more efficiently. For example, by sendingfluid flow from a prelubrication or refill process through a fine filtermedia, parasitic power required to filter the fluid can be reduced. Incertain embodiments, fluid can be passed through the fine filter mediaduring periods when the system would otherwise be decelerated by brakingactivity, for example, and embodiments of the invention can bestructured to minimize the parasitic power required to filter thisfluid. In addition, this additional load could be usefully applied toenhance the braking power of the machine.

The term “machine” as applied herein may include any equipment suitablefor use in accordance with the present techniques, methods, and systems.Examples of “machines” as applied herein can include, withoutlimitation, lubrication systems, engines, diesel engines, large-scalediesel engines, motors, rotating equipment, generators, aircraftengines, emergency machines, emergency generators, compressors,equipment that includes a machine (e.g., such as mining equipment,construction equipment, marine equipment, aircraft, etc.), and manyother machines. As described in various portions of the presentdisclosure, the example of an “engine” is employed for convenience ofdisclosure in describing various embodiments and aspects of the presentinvention. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however,that such use of “engine” as one example of a type of machine isintended merely for convenience of disclosure and is not necessarilyintended to limit the scope of the invention.

Another example of a machine is a “fluid reservoir system” which mayinclude any reasonable combination of fluid reservoirs, fluid componentssuch as valves, pumps, and/or other components suitable forincorporation into a fluid reservoir system.

The term “evacuation” as applied to the systems and methods disclosedherein may include evacuation of any portion of a fluid of a machine, areceptacle, a reservoir, or other like fluid-retaining system orapparatus. Similarly, the term “refill” as applied to the systems andmethods disclosed herein may include refill of any portion of the fluidcapacity of a machine, receptacle, reservoir, or other likefluid-retaining system or apparatus.

The term “valve system” as applied to the systems and methods disclosedherein may include any combination of valves, pipes, disconnects,adapters and other like structural components configured for performingone or more fluid refill and/or fluid evacuation processes. Examples ofvalves included within a valve system may include, without limitation,single-position valves, multi-position valves (e.g., such as junctionblock assemblies or five-way control valves), mechanical valves,electronic valves, electro-mechanical valves, and/or other types ofvalves with or without electronic control for actuating the variouspossible open or closed positions of such valves.

Where suitable and applicable to the various embodiments of the presentsystems and methods discussed herein, it can be appreciated that variouscomponents, structures, elements, and other configurations may beapplied or installed in a location considered external or internal tothe operation of a particular machine. In applicable portions herein inwhich the use of pumps and/or supplemental pumps is disclosed, forexample, such pumps may be positioned, installed, or operated asinternal components of a machine and/or as externally positionedcomponents that assist, or otherwise operate in conjunction with, thefunctions of the machine. For example, in certain embodiments asupplemental pump or other engine component may be considered “onboard”with respect to the machine.

As employed herein, the term “type” or “kind” used with regard tovarious fluids discussed herein is intended to distinguish differenttypes or kinds of fluids between/among each other. For example, oil isconsidered one “type” of fluid, transmission fluid is consideredanother, different “type” of fluid, and hydraulic fluid is consideredanother, different “type” of fluid. It should be noted, for example,that a used amount of a “type” of fluid is not considered different withrespect to a clean or fresh fluid of the same “type” (e.g., clean oilused in a fluid refill or replacement process for a machine is notconsidered a different “type” of fluid with respect to the used oildrained from the machine during a fluid evacuation process).

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example arrangement of a machine 102operatively associated with a fluid filtration apparatus including asupplemental pump 104 and a supplemental filter apparatus 106 inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. As shown, themachine 102 may include an engine 108 comprising one or more fluidreservoirs 110 (e.g., hydraulic fluid reservoir 110A, transmission fluidreservoir 110B, oil sump 110C, or various other fluid reservoirs 110D).The engine 108 may also include a main pump 112 that performs primaryfluid processing for the engine 108, such as pumping oil, air, or otherfluids through the engine 108, for example. One or more filters 114 maybe included in the engine, as well as potentially a variety of otherengine components 116. In various embodiments, the supplemental filterapparatus 106 and/or the filters 114 may include one or more of anelectrical filter, a magnetic filter, a centrifugal filter, apaper-based filter, or a synthetic filter. In certain embodiments, thesupplemental pump 104 may be positioned onboard with respect to themachine 102 and/or the engine 108.

In various embodiments, the machine 102 may be structured with one ormore fluid components 118. The fluid component 118 may include one ormore of the following fluidic structures, for example and withoutlimitation: a pump that is off-board with respect to the machine 102; apump that is on-board with respect to the machine 102; a flow controlmeans such as a hand-held device, for example; a bracket or evacuationbracket; and/or, a quick-disconnect structure. The fluid component 118may also be one or more other types of components, devices, or systemssuitable for supplying positive and/or negative fluid pressure to one ormore fluid inlet ports or fluid outlet ports associated with the fluidcomponent 118. For example, the fluid component 118 may be employed toperform one or more types of fluid evacuation processes and/or fluidrefill processes (e.g., oil changes or other machine 102 maintenanceoperations) in association with different fluid reservoirs 110, forexample, of the machine 102. It can be appreciated that the fluidcomponent 118 may be positioned in one or more other places within thefluid system or valve system of the machine 102.

In various embodiments, a control module 122 may be operativelyassociated with the machine 102 to collect, process, and/or communicatedata indicative of operational states, triggering conditions, machine102 conditions, component functions, events, or other like data. Forexample, the control module 122 may be programmed to activate ordeactivate the supplemental pump 104; to receive, transmit, and/orprocess data signals in communication with one or more components of themachine 102; and/or, to process or analyze data communicated from one ormore sensors 124A-124D that can be operatively associated with variousparts of the machine 102. For example, the sensor 124A may be configuredto detect contaminants or other aspects of fluid composition associatedwith fluid flow passing through the supplemental filter apparatus 106.The control module 122 may include one or more processors or computersystems programmed with software, firmware, or other computer-executableinstructions to perform the various functions of the control module 122.The control module 122 may be operatively associated with one or moredata transmission devices 132 which may receive and/or store datareceived or processed by the control module 122. In certain embodiments,the control module 122 may communicate signals to one or more indicators142 which reflect the activity or function of different aspects of thecontrol module 122. For example, one such indicator 142 may include awarning light, or an alert graphical display positioned on the consoleof a vehicle in which the machine 102 is installed. In certainembodiments, the control module 122 may activate or deactivate a valvesystem or otherwise operate a valve or valve apparatus in connectionwith a filter triggering condition, for example.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in the example shown, the machine 102includes a fluid filtration apparatus comprising the supplemental pump104 and the supplemental filter apparatus 106. The supplemental pump 104may be connected for fluid communication with the main pump 112 of theengine 108. For example, FIG. 1A illustrates an arrangement in which thesupplemental pump 104 is operatively connected for communicating fluidwith the main pump 112. In certain embodiments, the supplemental pump104 may be a pre-lubrication pump, for example, or an existing pump suchas a component of a power steering system or a power braking systemoperatively associated with the machine 102. The supplemental pump 104may be structured for fluid communication with at least one component ofthe engine 108, such as one or more of the fluid reservoirs 110. Thesupplemental filter apparatus 106 may be positioned in fluidic serieswith the supplemental pump 104 and structured with an inlet forreceiving fluid flow from the supplemental pump 104. The supplementalfilter apparatus 106 may be structured with an outlet to direct thefluid flow to one or more of the fluid reservoirs 110, or othercomponents, of the engine 108. From the outlet or discharge side of thesupplemental filter apparatus 106, fluid may be directed to flow to aprimary oil filter 114 of the engine 108, for example. In variousembodiments, the supplemental filter apparatus 106 may include at leastone fine filtration medium. In certain embodiments, one of the filters114 of the engine 108 may be positioned between the outlet of thesupplemental filter apparatus 106 and one or more of the fluidreservoirs 110 of the engine 108.

In various embodiments, the control module 122 may be programmed toperform one or more functions upon detecting the existence of variousfilter triggering conditions or other events. Likewise, the controlmodule 122 may be programmed to perform one or more functions when afilter triggering condition is no longer detected, is out of apredefined parameter range (e.g., 10% above or 10% below a predefinedengine speed), or otherwise no longer exists as a triggering condition.For example, the control module 122 may be programmed to activate ordeactivate the supplemental pump 104 in association with detecting theexistence of a filter triggering condition. Examples of potential filtertriggering conditions may include a combination of one or more of thefollowing: threshold fluid temperature, threshold fluid pressure,threshold engine speed, threshold fluid contaminant level, filtercondition, threshold time duration of operation, an injection timingvariable, a fuel consumption value, a predetermined day or time, machinestate of operation. For example, supplemental filtration can beactivated as a function of oil condition, engine 108 hours, mileage,fuel consumption, and/or engine 108 component speed (e.g., as measuredin revolutions per minute (RPM)). In certain embodiments, engine 108hours may mean total time of operation, such as operation time betweentwo or more defined points in time, or time between fluid operationssuch as oil changes performed on the engine 108.

In another example, fluid condition monitoring may be performed todetect a filter triggering condition, such as particle count, particleaccumulation, oxidation level, and/or fluid dilution level. In variousembodiments, a contaminant sensor may be configured to detect sootlevels, for example, or the presence of other contaminants in a fluidflowing through the machine 102. For example, a filter triggeringcondition may be employed that corresponds with a maximum soot levelthat is acceptable for desired or optimum engine 108 operation, whichmay be specified by an original equipment manufacturer or by otherengineering specifications. The control module 122 may be programmed toactivate the supplemental filter apparatus 106 upon reaching thepredetermined soot level for the specifications of a given engine 108.In another example, the supplemental filter apparatus 106 may functionto remove a dilutant such as water, for example, from oil or fuelemployed by the machine 102.

In various embodiments, a filter triggering condition may involve adeviation from a predetermined range for an engine 108 idle speed, aturbo boost pressure, a fuel consumption rate, a waste gate function, oran injection rate, for example. In addition, calculated values such afuel-to-air ratio can be considered at least part of a filter triggeringcondition. For example, clogging an air filter in the engine 108 cancause a change in the fuel-to-air ratio, in addition to potentiallycausing the fuel to increase its soot level. Other factors related tocombustion chemistry, or other phenomena that impact quality ofcombustion, may also form the basis for defining a filter triggeringcondition.

The inventor has recognized that arrangements such as the oneillustrated in FIG. 1 can provide more than a partial bypass for themachine 102. In one embodiment, the fluid filtration apparatus may beemployed to draw fluid flow from a reservoir or oil sump of the engine108, for example, and divert more than 15 percent of the oil flowthrough the engine 108 through a two to five micron supplemental filterapparatus 106 using the main pump 112 of the engine 108. In variousembodiments, the filter apparatus provides full flow from the engine 108through the supplemental filter apparatus 106 by using the supplementalpump 104.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates another example of a fluid filtrationapparatus structured for operation in a machine 202 in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention. The fluid filtration apparatusincludes a supplemental pump 204 structured for fluid communication witha supplemental filter apparatus 206 and at least one component of anengine 208. The engine 208 may include multiple fluid reservoirs 210having different types of fluids (e.g., hydraulic fluid reservoir 210A,transmission fluid reservoir 210B, oil sump 210C, or various other fluidreservoirs). The engine 208 may also include a main pump 212 thatperforms primary fluid processing for the engine 208, such as pumpingoil, air, or other fluids through the engine 208, for example. One ormore filters 214 may be included in the engine 208, as well aspotentially a variety of other engine components 216. In variousembodiments, the supplemental filter apparatus 206 and/or the filters214 may include one or more of an electrical filter, a magnetic filter,a centrifugal filter, a paper-based filter, or a synthetic filter. Incertain embodiments, the supplemental pump 204 may be positioned onboardwith respect to the machine 202 and/or the engine 208.

As shown, the inlet of the supplemental filter apparatus 206 may beconnected to the outlet of the supplemental pump 204. A valve apparatus218 may be provided with an inlet connected at a common junction betweenan outlet of the supplemental pump 204 and an inlet of the supplementalfilter apparatus 206. The outlet of the valve apparatus 218 may also beconnected at a common junction of an outlet of the supplemental filterapparatus 206 and one or more components of the engine 108, such as oneor more of the fluid reservoirs 210A-210D. In various embodiments, thevalve apparatus 218 may include a normally open valve, for example.

In various embodiments, a control module 222 may be programmed toactuate at least one of the normally open valve in the valve apparatus218 or to activate the supplemental pump 204 in association withdetecting a filter triggering condition (including filter triggeringconditions described in other places herein). Likewise, the controlmodule 222 may be programmed to activate or deactivate the supplementalpump 204 as appropriate in accordance with various filter triggeringconditions. For example, the control module 222 may be programmed toactivate at least one of the normally open valve in the valve apparatus218 or to activate the supplemental pump 204 at a predetermined timeduring operation of the machine 202. In certain embodiments, the controlmodule 222 may be programmed to activate or deactivate the supplementalpump 204; to receive, transmit, and/or process data signals incommunication with one or more components of the machine 202; and/or, toprocess or analyze data communicated from one or more sensors 224A-224Eas operatively associated with various parts of the machine 202. Forexample, the sensor 224A may be configured to detect contaminants orother aspects of fluid composition associated with fluid flow passingthrough the supplemental filter apparatus 206.

The control module 222 may include one or more processors or computersystems programmed with software, firmware, or other computer-executableinstructions to perform the various functions of the control module 222.The control module 222 may be operatively associated with one or moredata transmission devices 232 which can store and/or process datareceived or processed by the control module 222. In certain embodiments,the control module 222 may communicate signals to one or more indicators242 which reflect the activity or function of different aspects of thecontrol module 222. For example, one such indicator 242 may include awarning light, or an alert graphical display positioned on the consoleof a vehicle in which the machine 202 is installed. In certainembodiments, the control module 222 may activate or deactivate a filtersystem or otherwise operate a valve or valve apparatus in connectionwith a filter triggering condition. For example, the control module 222may be programmed to actuate the normally open valve of the valveapparatus 218 to employ or to bypass the supplemental filter apparatus206 under appropriate circumstances or in association with a detectedfilter triggering condition.

It can be seen that the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 can beembodied as a filtration system (as supplied in part by the supplementalfilter apparatus 206) in parallel with a prelubrication system (assupplied in part by the supplemental pump 204). The normally open valveof the valve apparatus 218 may represent a usual primary flow of fluidthrough the supplemental pump 204 back to the engine 208. In oneoperating state, the normally open valve of the valve apparatus 218 canbe closed to direct a primary fluid flow through the supplemental filterapparatus 206. In another operating state, the normally open valve ofthe valve apparatus 218 can be opened to direct the primary fluid flowaway from the supplemental filter apparatus 206 and back to the engine208. It can be seen that the filtration system of FIG. 2 can be usefulin the event that a fine filter associated with the supplemental filterapparatus 206 becomes too restrictive, which might result from a cloggedfilter, for example. In one example, a filter triggering condition mayresult in opening the normally open valve of the valve apparatus 218when an oil temperature is below a threshold temperature and when a flowrate through the supplemental filter apparatus 206 is below a thresholdrate. In another example, the filter triggering condition which resultsin actuating the valve apparatus 218 may detect a threshold fluidpressure at various points within the machine 202. In another example,supplemental filtration by the supplemental filter apparatus 206 may beengaged based on condition monitoring of the fluid to regulate when andhow long the supplemental pump 204 is activated.

In certain embodiments, a filter triggering condition can be logged bythe control module 222 as a fault condition, such as when fluid pressureis too high at the supplemental filter apparatus 206 perhaps indicatingthat the filter medium needs to be cleaned or changed. In addition, afilter triggering condition may be accompanied by activating ordeactivating an indicator 242 in connection with the filter triggeringcondition. For example, a high fluid pressure filter triggeringcondition may cause an indicator 242 in the operator area of the machine208 to activate, signaling to the operator that the filter medium of thesupplemental filter apparatus 206 needs to be changed.

The inventor has recognized that there are advantages in determiningwhether to use the supplemental pump 204 to direct fluid flow through afilter 214 of the engine 208 or directly to an appropriate fluidreservoir 210. For example, fluid that has passed through thesupplemental filter apparatus 206 may be sufficiently clean so as not torequire further filtering through a filter 214 of the engine 208. Inanother example, directing fluid flow with the supplemental pump 204from the supplemental filter apparatus 206 into a filter 214, oil rifle,and bearings of the engine 208 can boost oil pressure. Such a boost inoil pressure may be useful at times when the engine 208 is idling, forexample, or during other states of machine 202 operation when a boost inoil pressure or other fluid pressure is required. It can be seen thatthis arrangement can boost engine oil pressure while lowering the powerrequired by the engine 208. In other words, one of the problemsidentified by the inventor is that typically the oil pump on the engine208 has to be oversized in order to deliver sufficient lubricationduring engine 208 idle. Accordingly, the oil pump is often oversized todeliver appropriate pressure at engine 208 idle speed, even though suchan oil pump is larger than it has to be to deliver pressure atcomparatively higher engine 208 speeds achieved during machine 202operation. In various embodiments, use of the filtration systemincluding the supplemental pump 204 can serve as a way to downsize theflow range of the engine pump 212.

In various embodiments, the control module 222 may be programmed toactivate the supplemental pump 204 and direct fluid flow back to the tothe filter 114 to allow for using a smaller engine primary oil pumpand/or reduce the duty cycle needed from certain engine 208 components.This arrangement has the potential to provide supplemental fluid flow atlow engine speeds 208 in a way that can allow engine 208 manufacturersto reduce the flow rate and thus reduce parasitic loading on the mainpump 212. Likewise, the control module 222 may be programmed to decidewhen to deactivate the supplemental pump 204. For example, deactivatingthe supplemental pump 204 may be performed in response to analyzing acombination of one or more factors such as engine 208 speed (e.g.,within a tolerance range at idle speed, full speed, or other operationalspeeds), engine oil rifle pressure, or fluid temperature. For example,an oil regulator may be disabled if the oil is too thick (i.e.,viscosity), and the engine 208 may then run on the high pressuresupplied by the supplemental pump 204 to raise the rifle pressure.

In various embodiments, the machine 202 may be structured with one ormore fluid components 220. The fluid component 220 may include one ormore of the following fluidic structures, for example and withoutlimitation: a pump that is off-board with respect to the machine 202; apump that is on-board with respect to the machine 202; a flow controlmeans such as a hand-held device, for example; a bracket or evacuationbracket; and/or, a quick-disconnect structure. The fluid component 220may also be one or more other types of components, devices, or systemssuitable for supplying positive and/or negative fluid pressure to one ormore fluid inlet ports or fluid outlet ports associated with the fluidcomponent 220. For example, the fluid component 220 may be employed toperform one or more types of fluid evacuation processes and/or fluidrefill processes (e.g., oil changes or other machine 202 maintenanceoperations) in association with different fluid reservoirs 210, forexample, of the machine 202. It can be appreciated that the fluidcomponent 220 may be positioned in one or more other places within thefluid system or valve system of the machine 202.

FIG. 3A schematically illustrates an example arrangement of a machine302 operatively associated with a supplemental pump 304 and asupplemental filter apparatus 306 in accordance with various embodimentsof the invention. As shown, the machine 302 may include an engine 308comprising one or more fluid reservoirs 310 (e.g., hydraulic fluidreservoir 310A, transmission fluid reservoir 310B, oil sump 310C, orvarious other fluid reservoirs 310D). The engine 308 may also include amain pump 312 that performs primary fluid processing for the engine 308,such as pumping oil, air, or other fluids through the engine 308, forexample. One or more filters 314 may be included in the engine, as wellas potentially a variety of other engine components 316. In variousembodiments, a fluid filtration apparatus may comprise the supplementalfilter apparatus 306 having an inlet connected at a common junction ofan outlet of the supplemental pump 304 and an inlet of a first valve318A. The first valve 318A may be connected to facilitate fluid flow tothe engine 308 at a threshold level of fluid pressure. A second valve318B may be positioned between an outlet of the supplemental filterapparatus 306 and an inlet of at least one component of the engine 308.In certain embodiments, the supplemental pump 304 may be positionedonboard with respect to the machine 302 and/or the engine 308.

In certain embodiments, a control module 322 may be programmed foractuating at least one of the first valve 318A, the second valve 318B,or the supplemental pump 304 in association with detecting the existenceof a filter triggering condition. For example, activating and/ordeactivating the supplemental pump 304 may be performed in response toanalyzing a combination of one or more factors such as engine 308 speed(e.g., within a tolerance range at idle speed, full speed, or otheroperational speeds), engine oil rifle pressure, or fluid temperature.For example, an oil regulator may be disabled if the oil is too thick(i.e., viscosity), and the engine 308 may then run on the high pressuresupplied by the supplemental pump 304 to raise the rifle pressure.Likewise, the control module 322 may be programmed to deactivate thesupplemental pump 304 as appropriate in accordance with various filtertriggering conditions. The control module 322 may include one or moreprocessors or computer systems programmed with software, firmware, orother computer-executable instructions to perform the various functionsof the control module 322. The control module 322 may be operativelyassociated with one or more data transmission devices 332 which canstore and/or process data received or processed by the control module322. The control module 322 may be programmed to activate or deactivatethe supplemental pump 304; to receive, transmit, and/or process datasignals in communication with one or more components of the machine 302;and/or, to process or analyze data communicated from one or more sensors324A-324E as operatively associated with various parts of the machine202. In certain embodiments, the control module 322 may communicatesignals to one or more indicators 342 which reflect the activity orfunction of different aspects of the control module 322. For example,one such indicator 342 may include a warning light, or an alertgraphical display positioned on the console of a vehicle in which themachine 302 is installed. In certain embodiments, the control module 322may activate or deactivate a filter system or otherwise operate a valveor valve apparatus in connection with a filter triggering condition.

In the example of a fluid filtration apparatus shown in FIG. 3A, thesecond valve 318B may include a normally closed valve to resist fluidflow through the supplemental filter apparatus 306 in a first operatingmode. In this first operating mode, fluid flows through the supplementalpump 304, through the first valve 318A, and then back to a component ofthe engine 308. In various embodiments, the first valve 318A may includea check valve which is connected to a filter head 314 of the engine 308,for example. In certain embodiments, the second valve 318B may beconnected to a sump of the engine 308. In the first operating mode whenthe second valve 318B is closed, then fluid may flow through thesupplemental pump 304 to the filter 314, such as during apre-lubrication fluid process, for example. In a second operating mode,the second valve 318B may be opened to enable bypass filtration of thefluid flow through the supplemental filter apparatus 306 and back to thesump 310C of the engine 308, or another fluid reservoir 310. It can beseen that back pressure through the filter 314 during engine operationcan resist fluid from flowing through the first valve 318A. In the eventthat restriction of fluid flow by the supplemental filter apparatus 306restriction results in unacceptably high pressure, then the first valve318A can be actuated to allow fluid flow through the engine 308 throughthe filter 314. In other words, when the second valve 318B is open, thepart of the fluid path that leads to the engine 308 through the firstvalve 318A and the filter head 314 is also open. For example, if thesupplemental filter apparatus 306 includes a two micron filter medium,and the filter medium becomes clogged during use, then a pressuregreater than pressure at the filter 314 would allow fluid to flow intothe filter 314, thus potentially limiting pressure at the supplementalfilter apparatus 306 to just slightly more than the engine 308 fluidpressure at filter 314.

In various embodiments, the machine 302 may be structured with one ormore fluid components 320. The fluid component 320 may include one ormore of the following fluidic structures, for example and withoutlimitation: a pump that is off-board with respect to the machine 302; apump that is on-board with respect to the machine 302; a flow controlmeans such as a hand-held device, for example; a bracket or evacuationbracket; and/or, a quick-disconnect structure. The fluid component 320may also be one or more other types of components, devices, or systemssuitable for supplying positive and/or negative fluid pressure to one ormore fluid inlet ports or fluid outlet ports associated with the fluidcomponent 320. For example, the fluid component 320 may be employed toperform one or more types of fluid evacuation processes and/or fluidrefill processes (e.g., oil changes or other machine 302 maintenanceoperations) in association with different fluid reservoirs 310, forexample, of the machine 302. It can be appreciated that the fluidcomponent 320 may be positioned in one or more other places within thefluid or valve system of the machine 302.

FIG. 3B illustrates an alternative embodiment of the fluid filtrationapparatus shown in FIG. 3A. In this embodiment, a multi-position valve352 may be located at a common junction of: an inlet of the supplementalfilter apparatus 306; an outlet of the supplemental pump 304; and, aninlet of a second valve 354 operatively associated with the engine 308.In addition, an outlet of the supplemental filter apparatus 306 may bein fluid communication with a fluid reservoir 310 or another componentof the engine 308. The multi-position valve 352 may be structured forbeing alternatively positioned: in a first operating state in which afluid path is established from the outlet of the supplemental pump 304to the inlet of the second valve 354; or in a second operating state inwhich a fluid path is established from the outlet of the supplementalpump 304, through the inlet of the supplemental filter apparatus 306,and to the fluid reservoir 310 or another component of the engine 308.The control module 322 may be configured to process or communicatesignals in connection with operation of the multi-position valve 352and/or a sensor 324C operatively associated with the multi-positionvalve 352.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example arrangement of a machine 402operatively associated with a fluid filtration apparatus including afluid reservoir pump 404 and a supplemental filter apparatus 406 inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. As shown, thefluid reservoir pump 404 may be connected to at least one fluidreservoir 410 of an engine 408. The machine 402 may include an engine408 comprising one or more fluid reservoirs 410 (e.g., hydraulic fluidreservoir 410A, transmission fluid reservoir 410B, oil sump 410C, orvarious other fluid reservoirs 410D). The engine 408 may also include amain pump 412 that performs primary fluid processing for the engine 408,such as pumping oil, air, or other fluids through the engine 408, forexample. One or more filters 414 may be included in the engine, as wellas potentially a variety of other engine components 416. In variousembodiments, the supplemental filter apparatus 406 and/or the filters414 may include one or more of an electrical filter, a magnetic filter,a centrifugal filter, a paper-based filter, or a synthetic filter. Incertain embodiments, the fluid reservoir pump 404 may be positionedonboard with respect to the machine 402 and/or the engine 408.

In certain embodiments, the fluid reservoir pump 404 may be apre-lubrication pump, for example, or an existing pump which is acomponent of a power steering system or a power braking systemoperatively associated with the machine 402. The supplemental pump 404may be structured for fluid communication with at least one component ofthe engine 408, such as one or more of the fluid reservoirs 410. Thesupplemental filter apparatus 406 may be positioned in fluidic serieswith the supplemental pump 404 and structured with an inlet forreceiving fluid flow from the supplemental pump 404. The supplementalfilter apparatus 406 may be structured with an outlet to direct thefluid flow to one or more of the fluid reservoirs 410 of the engine 408.From the outlet or discharge side of the supplemental filter apparatus406, fluid may be directed to flow to a primary air filter 414 of theengine 408, for example. In various embodiments, the supplemental filterapparatus 406 may include at least one fine filtration medium. Incertain embodiments, one of the filters 414 of the engine 408 may bepositioned between the outlet of the supplemental filter apparatus 406and one or more of the fluid reservoirs 410 of the engine 408.

In various embodiments, the supplemental filter apparatus 406 may beconnected to the fluid reservoir pump 404, which may be a pumpoperatively associated with the oil sump 410C, for example. In certainembodiments, a relief valve 418 may be connected for fluid communicationbetween the supplemental filter apparatus 406 and the fluid reservoirpump 404. The relief valve 418 may be structured to direct fluid flowfrom the fluid reservoir pump 404 to the supplemental filter apparatus406 in association with a filter triggering condition associated withthe relief valve 418, for example. In various embodiments, the reliefvalve 418 may be structured to resist diverting flow from an oil rifleand bearings of the engine 408, for example, until the engine 408experiences excess flow. In certain embodiments, the relief valve 418may be regulated by pressure, temperature, fluid viscosity, flow offluid reservoir pump 404 (e.g., engine oil pump), and/or otherconditions. In one embodiment, the relief valve 418 may be activatedwhen excess flow exists beyond an amount flow that is necessary for theengine 408 to perform at a predetermined level of operation. As shown inFIG. 4, excess flow can be passed through the relief valve 418 to thesupplemental filter apparatus 406 as a bypass for performing finefiltration.

In various embodiments, it can be seen that operation of the engine 408can be optimized to use substantially the correct amount of fluid neededby the engine 408, and excess flow can be directed to a bypass orfiltration process. For example, if oil rifle pressure in the engine 408is 23 psi and the engine 408 speed is at 900 rpm, then the engine 408may begin dumping at least part of its excess oil through an oilregulator. As the engine 408 speed ramps up the rpm curve, more flowthan needed may be added to the system. At this stage, the riflepressure may be 32 psi, for example, when the engine 408 begins to dumpthe excess oil. Next, in this example, suppose that the engine 408achieves a rated speed of 1800 to 2100 rpm, while rifle pressure hadrisen from 32 psi to 35 psi, while potentially dumping 23 gallons perminute through the oil regulator. In this example, it can be seen thatat least some portion of the dumped oil can be directed through thesupplemental filter apparatus 406 instead of being wasted. In certainembodiments, the filter triggering condition associated with activationor deactivation of the relief valve 418 may or may not be set at a levelthat results in a decrease in the rifle pressure within the engine 408.

In various embodiments, the machine 402 may be structured with one ormore fluid components in operative association with the relief valve418. The fluid component may include one or more of the followingfluidic structures, for example and without limitation: a pump that isoff-board with respect to the machine 402; a pump that is on-board withrespect to the machine 402; a flow control means such as a hand-helddevice, for example; a bracket or evacuation bracket; and/or, aquick-disconnect structure. The fluid component may also be one or moreother types of components, devices, or systems suitable for supplyingpositive and/or negative fluid pressure to one or more fluid inlet portsor fluid outlet ports associated with the fluid component. For example,the fluid component may be employed to perform one or more types offluid evacuation processes and/or fluid refill processes (e.g., oilchanges or other machine 402 maintenance operations) in association withdifferent fluid reservoirs 410, for example, of the machine 402. It canbe appreciated that the fluid component may be positioned in one or moreother places within the fluid or valve system of the machine 402.

In various embodiments, a control module 422 may be operativelyassociated with the machine 402 to collect, process, and/or communicatedata indicative of operational states, triggering conditions, machine402 conditions, component functions, events, or other like data. Forexample, the control module 422 may be programmed to activate ordeactivate the fluid reservoir pump 404; to receive, transmit, and/orprocess data signals in communication with one or more components of themachine 402; and/or, to process or analyze data communicated from one ormore sensors 424A-424D that may be operatively associated with variousparts of the machine 402. For example, the sensor 424A may be configuredto detect contaminants or other aspects of fluid composition associatedwith fluid flow passing through the supplemental filter apparatus 406.The control module 422 may include one or more processors or computersystems programmed with software, firmware, or other computer-executableinstructions to perform the various functions of the control module 422.The control module 422 may be operatively associated with one or moredata transmission devices 132 which can store and/or process datareceived or processed by the control module 422. In certain embodiments,the control module 422 may communicate signals to one or more indicators442 which reflect the activity or function of different aspects of thecontrol module 422. For example, one such indicator 442 may include awarning light, or an alert graphical display positioned on the consoleof a vehicle in which the machine 402 is installed. In certainembodiments, the control module 422 may activate or deactivate a valvesystem or otherwise operate a valve or valve apparatus in connectionwith a filter triggering condition, for example.

In various embodiments, the control module 422 may be programmed toperform one or more functions upon detecting the existence of variousfilter triggering conditions or other events. Likewise, the controlmodule 422 may be programmed to perform one or more functions when afilter triggering condition is no longer detected, is out of apredefined parameter range (e.g., 10% above or 10% below a predefinedengine speed), or otherwise no longer exists as a triggering condition.For example, the control module 422 may be programmed to activate thefluid reservoir pump 404 in association with detecting the existence ofa filter triggering condition. Examples of potential filter triggeringconditions may include a combination of one or more of the following:threshold fluid temperature, threshold fluid pressure, threshold enginespeed, threshold fluid contaminant level, filter condition, thresholdtime duration of operation, an injection timing variable, a fuelconsumption value, a predetermined day or time, machine state ofoperation. For example, supplemental filtration can be activated as afunction of oil condition, engine 408 hours, or engine 408 componentspeed as measured in RPM or another suitable measurement. In certainembodiments, engine 408 hours may mean total time of operation, such asoperation time between two or more defined points in time, or timebetween fluid operations such as oil changes performed on the engine408.

In another example, fluid condition monitoring may be performed todetect a filter triggering condition, such as particle count, particleaccumulation, and/or fluid dilution level. In various embodiments, acontaminant sensor may be configured to detect soot levels, for example,or the presence of other contaminants in a fluid flowing through themachine 402. For example, a filter triggering condition may be employedthat corresponds with a maximum soot level that is acceptable fordesired or optimum engine 408 operation, which may be specified by anoriginal equipment manufacturer or by other engineering specifications.The control module 422 may be programmed to activate the supplementalfilter apparatus 406 upon reaching the predetermined soot level for thespecifications of a given engine 408. In another example, thesupplemental filter apparatus 406 may function to remove a dilutant suchas water, for example, from oil or fuel employed by the machine 402.

In various embodiments, a filter triggering condition may involve adeviation from a predetermined range for an engine 408 idle speed, aturbo boost pressure, a fuel consumption rate, a waste gate function, oran injection rate, for example. In addition calculated values such afuel-to-air ratio can be considered at least part of a filter triggeringcondition. For example, clogging an air filter in the engine 408 cancause a change in the fuel-to-air ratio, in addition to potentiallycausing the fuel to increase its soot level. Other factors related tocombustion chemistry, or other phenomena that impact quality ofcombustion, may also form the basis for defining a filter triggeringcondition.

FIG. 5 includes an example of a process flow illustrating aspects ofdetecting and identifying filter triggering conditions in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention. At step 502, a fluidcondition or an engine component condition may be detected, for example,such as by the function of one or more of the control modules or sensorsdescribed herein. As shown, examples of fluid and component conditions504 include fluid pressure 504A, fluid temperature 504B, contaminantlevel 504C, injection timing 504D, engine speed 504E, time of operationor service 504F, fuel consumption rate 504G, or many other conditions504H (including the various filter triggering conditions describedherein). At step 506, a control module or other device may determinewhether a filter triggering threshold has been reached (e.g., whetherthe fluid temperature has fallen below or risen above a predeterminedthreshold). If the predetermined threshold has been reached, then thesystem may perform an action 508 such as actuating a valve 508A,activating or deactivating a supplemental pump 508B or the main pump ofa machine, bypassing a supplemental filter 508C, and/or take otheractions as may be appropriate under the circumstances, such asperforming a kidney loop or fluid filtration process, for example. Inone example, the supplemental pump may be activated to perform a kidneyloop operation during braking or deceleration of the machine, orotherwise when the engine speed 504E of the machine is reduced.

In various embodiments, the control modules described herein may includevarious components for controlling and monitoring a fluid system, aswell as for monitoring, collecting and analyzing data associated withvarious fluid system and method embodiments described herein. Thecontrol module may include a processor for executing various commandswithin, and directing the function of, the various components of thecontrol module. One or more sensor inputs can be provided in the controlmodule for receiving and processing data communicated from one or moresensors installed within a fluid system. Sensors applicable to operationof a machine can include, without limitation, sensors to detecttemperature, sensors to detect pressure, sensors to detect voltage,sensors to detect current, sensors to detect contaminants, sensors todetect cycle time, flow sensors and/or other sensors suitable fordetecting various conditions experienced by the machine during thevarious stages of operation of the machine. In addition, one or moreindicators can be provided in operative association with the controlmodule for providing alerts or notifications of conditions detected andcommunicated to the control module. Such indicators can be conventionalaudio, visual, or audiovisual indications of a condition detected withina fluid system. The control module may also include one or moreoperatively associated data transmission devices or data storage mediafor storing, retrieving and/or reporting data communicated to thecontrol module. Data stored within the data storage media may include avariety of data collected from the condition of the fluid systemincluding, for example and without limitation, oil condition, particlecount of contaminants, cycle time data for time to evacuate or time torefill a given reservoir, and/or fluid receptacle or fluid storage data.

The control module may include one or more controls for permittingmanipulation of various elements of a fluid system and/or for receivingand processing data communicated from a fluid system. Machine controlscan be provided for controlling various aspects of an engine, forexample, such as ignition, pre-lubrication operations, initiating afluid evacuation process, initiating a fluid refill process, initiatinga kidney loop or filtration process, and various other machineoperations. Pump controls can be provided for controlling the action ofa pump or supplemental pump operatively associated with a fluid system,such as the fluid system of a machine, for example. One or more valvecontrols can be provided to actuate the position (e.g., open, closed, orother position) of one or more valves included within a fluid system. Inaddition, one or more multi-position valve controls can be provided tooperate a multi-way valve or a multi-position valve apparatus or system.In addition, evacuation bracket controls can be provided for theparticular function of one or more evacuation brackets included within,or introduced into, a fluid system as fluid components. In addition, invarious embodiments described herein, it can be appreciated that thecontrols need not be located within the same location such as includedwithin the same service panel, for example, or other like centralizedlocation. It can be further appreciated that the controls may beoperatively associated with a machine, a fluid system, a valve system,or other component by one or more wireline and/or wireless communicationmethods or systems.

Data can be communicated to the control module to and/or from a fluidsystem through a variety of methods, systems, or techniques. In variousembodiments, data may be communicated, for example, by a wirelineconnection, communicated by satellite communications, cellularcommunications, infrared and/or communicated in accordance with aprotocol such as IEEE 802.11, for example, or other wireless or radiofrequency communication protocol among other similar types ofcommunication methods and systems. As shown in FIG. 6, one or more datatransmission devices 602 can be employed in operative association with acontrol module 604 for the purpose of receiving, processing, inputtingand/or storing data and/or for cooperating with the control module 604to control, monitor or otherwise manipulate one or more componentsincluded within a fluid system. Examples of data transmission devices602 include, for example and without limitation, computers 602A, laptops602B, mobile phones 602C, tablets 602D, and personal digital assistants(PDA's) 602E, and/or other data devices 602 suitable for executinginstructions on one or more computer-readable media. The control module604 may also include or may be operatively associated with a globalpositioning system (“GPS”) 602F that can be programmed to determine aposition of a machine, for example. In certain embodiments, the datatransmission device 602 may include one or more types of data storagemedia 602G suitable for receiving data signals and/or storing data. Inone example, a high fluid pressure filter triggering condition maygenerate a signal which represents the filter medium of the supplementalfilter apparatus needing to be changed. Such a signal could becommunicated wirelessly to a mobile device, for example, by use of thevarious media or devices described herein.

Various types of sensors can be employed in various embodiments todetect one or more conditions, states, or other characteristics of afluid system, different fluids, or components employed in the fluidsystem. For example, the sensors can detect one or more of the followingconditions within a fluid system: engine oil pressure, oil temperaturein the engine, amount of current drawn by a pre-lubrication circuit,presence of contaminants (such as oil contaminants, for example) in theengine, amount of time that has elapsed for performance of one or morecycles of various engine operations (i.e., cycle time) such aspre-lubrication operations, fluid evacuation operations, fluid refilloperations, fluid flow rates, and others. One example of a sensor thatmay be used in accordance with various embodiments of the presentsystems and methods is a contamination sensor marketed under the“LUBRIGARD” trade designation (Lubrigard Limited). A contaminationsensor can provide information regarding oxidation products, water,glycol, metallic wear particles, and/or other contaminants that may bepresent in the engine oil, hydraulic oil, gearbox oil, transmission oil,compressor oil and/or other fluids used in various machines. In variousaspects of the present methods and systems, the contamination sensor maybe employed during one or more fluid processes, for example, such as afluid evacuation process or a fluid refill process.

It can be appreciated that the control module can receive and store dataassociated with activation and deactivation of various components of afluid system and operation of a machine, such as an engine, for example,included within the fluid system. Cycle time, for example, can becalculated from analysis of collected data to provide an indication ofelapsed time for completing evacuation and/or refill operations. For agiven oil temperature or temperature range (e.g., as can be detected andcommunicated by a temperature sensor), an average cycle time, forexample, can be calculated through analysis of two or more collectedcycle times. In one aspect, the present methods and systems candetermine whether the most recently elapsed cycle time deviates from anominal average cycle time, or range of cycle times, for a given oiltemperature or temperature range. In addition, factors may be known suchas the type and viscosity of fluids (e.g., such as oil) used inconnection with operation of the machine. An unacceptable deviation froma nominal cycle time, or range of times, can result in recording a faultin a data storage medium operatively associated with the control module.It can be appreciated that many other types of fault conditions maydetected, analyzed and recorded in connection with practice of thepresent systems and methods. In other illustrative examples, conditionsassociated with battery voltage, current, and/or the presence ofcontaminants in the machine, for example, may be detected, analyzed, andone or more fault conditions recorded by the control module.

In various embodiments, data collected from fluid system operation canbe stored on an internal data module 117, 217, 317, 417 installed on ornear a machine, for example. The internal data module 117, 217, 317, 417can include a processor with an operatively associated memory. In oneaspect, the internal data module 117, 217, 317, 417 can be a “one-shot”circuit, as that term is understood by those skilled in the art. Theinternal data module 117, 217, 317, 417 can be configured to receive andstore data related to various conditions of a fluid system, a machine, avalve, a pump, or other components of a fluid system. In one embodiment,the internal data module 117, 217, 317, 417 can store data in the memoryprior to engine ignition and then transfer the stored data to thecontrol module, for example, or another computer system, once engineignition is initiated. In another embodiment, the internal data module117, 217, 317, 417 can store condition data for subsequent download tothe control module or another suitable computer system. In variousembodiments, the internal data module 117, 217, 317, 417 can beconfigured for use in performing data collection and storage functionswhen the control module is not otherwise active (e.g., during variousmachine service operations). In this manner, the internal data module117, 217, 317, 417 can be employed to store data corresponding to theelectrical events associated with an oil change, for example, or anothertype of fluid evacuation or refill procedure and can transmit datarelated to the procedure to the control module. In various embodiments,the internal data module 117, 217, 317, 417 can be a stand-alone,discrete module, or can be configured for full or partial integrationinto the operation of the control module.

Collected and analyzed data, as well as recorded fault events, can bestored in association with the control module, the internal data module117, 217, 317, 417, and/or at a remote location. In various embodiments,the control module and/or the internal data module 117, 217, 317, 417can be configured for operation as integral components of a machine oras remote components not installed locally on the machine. The collectedand analyzed information can be stored in one or more of the datatransmission devices and/or data storage media operatively associatedwith the control module, or on another conventional storage suitable foruse in connection with the control module. The information can also bestored externally with respect to a machine and its components. Data canbe transmitted wirelessly by a radio frequency communication or by awireline connection from the control module to one or more data devices(as described herein). A mobile phone 602C, for example, may beconfigured and employed as a computer system for receiving andprocessing data collected from the control module during fluidevacuation and fluid refill processes.

In various embodiments, data can be collected, stored and/or analyzedfor multiple reservoirs connected with, or operatively associated with,a machine. A control module or other data device can be employed tocollect, store, and/or analyze data in accordance with one or more ofthe process steps shown in FIG. 5, for example, as well as in connectionwith other functions performed in connection with fluid operationsand/or maintenance for a machine. In one example, the control module canbe used to collect and analyze time-stamp information associated with anevent such as an evacuation/refill process performed in connection withan oil reservoir, for example. Data such as current valve position,valve type, and/or reservoir type, for example, can be collected inconnection with performance of an evacuation/refill procedure for afluid reservoir, for example. Data stored within the data transmissiondevices and/or data storage media may include a variety of datacollected from the condition of a fluid system including, for exampleand without limitation, oil condition; particle count of contaminants;cycle time data for time to evacuate or time to refill a givenreservoir; time stamp data on a reservoir-by-reservoir basis; time stampdata on a component-by-component basis; time stamp data on asystem-by-system basis; and/or, data associated with a fluid receptacleor another fluid storage medium.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates various examples of fluid reservoir andpump combinations that may be employed in association with variousembodiments of the invention. As shown, each fluid reservoir 702A, 704A,706A, 708A may be operatively associated with a pump or supplementalpump 702B, 704B, 706B, 708B. For example, one or more of the fluidreservoirs 702A, 704A, 706A, 708A may be a component of a power steeringsystem or power braking system of a machine. In the example shown, oneor more of the supplemental pumps 702B, 704B, 706B, 708B may beoperatively associated with one or more supplemental filter apparatuses702C, 704C, 706C, 708C. In certain embodiments, two or more fluidreservoirs may share a common pump and/or a common supplemental filterapparatus. Where operationally applicable, it can be appreciated thatthe multiple supplemental pump and/or multiple supplemental filterapparatus embodiments illustrated in FIG. 7 may be employed inconnection with various embodiments of machines and fluid filtrationapparatuses described herein. In one example, fluid such as the engineoil of a machine may be filtered through a supplemental filter apparatusand then returned back to the fuel tank of the machine to be used asfuel.

Referring now to FIG. 8, for purposes of illustrating an operativeenvironment for certain embodiments of the invention, a diesel engine810 is shown having portions removed and/or broken away for convenienceof illustration of the lubrication system of the engine 810. It can beappreciated that the diesel engine 810 is shown and described hereinmerely for purposes of convenience of disclosure and illustration andthat many other machines, as defined herein, can be employed inaccordance with the various embodiments of the present systems andmethods. The lubrication system may include a main oil pump 820 that ismechanically driven from the crankshaft 822 of the engine 810. Whenactuated by rotation of crankshaft 822, the main oil pump 820 draws oilfrom a sump 824 through a screening element 826 and distributes it underpressure through a plurality of conduits 828. The pressurized oil isdelivered to the crankshaft bearings 830 of the engine 810, to theturbocharger unit 832, to the valve train assembly 834, to the pistons836, through a filtering assembly 838, and to other engine componentsthat require lubrication. It can be appreciated that one or more valvesand/or passages (not shown) may be included within the lubricationsystem of the engine 810 to control the flow of oil provided to variousengine components.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, during operation of the engine 810, themain oil pump 820 is not actuated until the crankshaft 822 begins torotate due to the operation of an electromechanical starter assembly840. The starter assembly 840 can be conventional in configuration andcan include a direct current motor assembly 850 having an armature shaft852 extending therethrough. The armature shaft 852 supports a startergear 854 adjacent to one end of the starter assembly 840. The startergear 854 engages a flywheel 823 to rotatably drive crankshaft 822 whenactuated. A bendix drive mechanism 856 controls the axial movement ofthe starter gear 854 to engage and disengage the starter gear 854 fromthe flywheel 823. Because a significant time period can elapse beforethe main oil pump 820 is able to achieve normal operating oil pressurein the lubrication system, vital components of the engine 810 may moveand interact through a number of cycles with little or no lubricationpressure. This can result in undesirably excessive wear and prematurefailure of engine components.

In various embodiments, a pre-lubrication electromechanical system canbe activated prior to combustion in the engine 810 and rotation of thecrankshaft 822. The pre-lubrication system can be employed to at leastsome lubricating oil pressure before initial movement and interaction ofengine 810 components. To provide lubrication to the engine 810components, the pre-lubrication system can include a supplemental oilpump 842 operatively connected to the starter assembly 840. In oneaspect, the supplemental oil pump 842 can include a mechanically drivengear-type oil pump having an elongated drive shaft 843 and gears 844,845. It can be seen that the supplemental oil pump 842 communicates withthe lubrication system of the engine 810 through an oil inlet line 846,an oil output line 847, and a check valve 848. The drive shaft 843 ofthe supplemental oil pump 842 may be connected to the armature shaft 852of the starter motor 840 opposite the starter gear 854 in any convenientmanner, so that the two shafts 843, 852 can rotate together. Thesupplemental oil pump 842 and the starter motor 840 may be convenientlyincorporated within a single housing to form an integral unit. Incertain embodiments, the supplemental oil pump 842 can be installed asan on-board component of the engine 810, or as a remotely positionedexternal pump.

In certain embodiments, the check valve 848 can be mounted on the engine810 adjacent to the outlet line 847 to resist oil backflow while thesupplemental oil pump 842 is inoperative. This check valve 848 can alsoresist spinning of the starter assembly 840 caused by oil flow duringnormal operation of the engine 810. It can be seen that failure of thesupplemental oil pump 842 would not render the engine 810 inoperative,thereby avoiding potentially expensive down-time and maintenance for theengine 810 and its associated equipment. Likewise, because thesupplemental oil pump 842 pumps oil through the filtering assembly 838before the oil enters the engine 810, failure of the supplemental oilpump 842 would not likely introduce damaging particles into the engine810.

In various embodiments, the inventor has developed systems and processesfor performing post-lubrication fluid operations on a fluid system of amachine in response to problems arising from engine idling requirements,among other reasons. In certain legal or regulatory environments,heavy-duty diesel vehicles are restricted from idling more than apredetermined time over a predetermined continuous period (e.g. cannotidle for more than five minutes over any continuous one-hour period).However, powering down a machine before the fluid systems of the machinehave had a chance to properly cool down can be detrimental to machinecomponents, performance, and useful life.

In the context of a machine engine, for example, if the turbocharger isnot provided with a sufficient cooling-off period, then oil around thebearings may stop flowing immediately after the engine has stopped. Thisheated oil may vaporize and form abrasive deposits that can result infailure of the turbocharger wheel, for example. This process is called“coking” and “coke” is the solid residue remaining when oils undergosevere oxidative and thermal breakdown at extreme engine temperatures.The higher the temperature, the harder, blacker, and more brittle theresidue can be, and it has been shown that coke formation events canincrease dramatically as local metal contact in machine fluid systemsexceed 225° C. Many coking events occur because the temperature and oilresidue time are both higher than the stability limitations of the oilin use. Lubricating oil remaining in the turbocharger bearing journalscan be heated and leave behind an abrasive carbon deposit. The next timethat the engine is started, coke deposits can score the bearings andclog fluid ports, and this can dramatically shorten the life of theturbocharger, other engine components, and even the engine itself.

Oil supplied to a turbocharger, for example, provides not only thebearing wedge, but it also acts as a heat sink, assisting in maintainingacceptable fluid temperatures within the bearing housing. When aturbocharged diesel engine is operated under heavy load for extendedperiods, it should be allowed to cool off by idling before being powereddown. However, if reasonable cool-down protocols are not properlyobserved, then carbonizing or coking typically results. When an engineruns at maximum power or high torque, the turbocharger is operating atvery high temperatures and speeds. A “hot” shut down after attainingsuch temperatures and speeds can cause reduced service life. Hot shutdowns can cause the turbocharger to fail because after high-speedoperation the turbocharger continued to rotate after the engine has beenshut off and oil pressure in the fluid system has dropped to zero. Theseissues can be readily addressed by idling the engine to allow for aneffective cool-down period. However, the aforementioned legal andregulatory requirements are at odds with typical protocols for allowingthe engine to idle and properly cool down prior to shut down.

The inventor has recognized that oil and other machine fluids not onlylubricate a turbocharger's spinning shaft and bearings, for example, butthe fluid carries away heat, acting as a form of heat sink. However,when oil flow stops or is reduced, heat is immediately transferred fromthe hot turbine wheel to the bearings, which are also heating up becauseof the increased friction due to the lack of oil. This combination offactors causes the turbocharger shaft temperature to increase rapidly.If this process continues too long, bearings or other critical enginecomponents may fail, which can lead to damage to seals, shafts,turbines, compressor shills, and other engine components.

FIGS. 10 through 12 include examples of a process and system forconducting fluid maintenance service operations, includingpost-lubrication fluid operations, for example, in association with oneor more fluid systems of a machine. It can be appreciated thatembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 10 through 12 may be readily applied inconnection with the pumps, control modules, valve assemblies, fluidcomponents, and sensors already described hereinabove.

As shown, a control module 1002 may be operatively associated with oneor more of a main machine pump 1004, a supplemental pump 1006, and/orone or more fluid reservoir pumps 1008. Although a single control module1002 is depicted controlling each of the pumps 1004, 1006, 1008, it canbe appreciated that multiple control modules may instead be provided tocontrol the functions of one or more different types of pumps. Invarious embodiments, the control module 1002 may be operativelyassociated with a control circuit 1010A, 1010B, 1010C (e.g., electroniccontrols) which is programmed or configured to activate or deactivatethe functions of the various pumps 1004, 1006, 1008. The control circuit1010A, 1010B, 1010C may receive signals communicated from one or moretypes of sensors 1012A, 1012B, 1012C, that provide data representativeof various engine conditions.

In various embodiments, the control module 1002 may be operativelyassociated with a fluid maintenance system 1022, which is programmed fordirecting the control module 1002 to activate or deactivate thefunctions of the pumps 1004, 1006, 1008 at various times and/or undervarious conditions. The fluid maintenance system 1022 may include aprocessor 1022A programmed for accessing one or more storage mediaincluding various machine data 1022B and/or generating a fluid serviceoperation schedule 1022C. For example, the machine data 1022B mayinclude data related to a time when the machine had last been activatedor a period of machine inactivity. When this period of inactivityexceeds a certain predetermined level, for example, then a fluidcirculation event may be placed on the fluid service operation schedule1022C. In this example, when the control module 1002 communicates withthe fluid maintenance system 1022 at step 1102. Through accessing thefluid service operation schedule 1022C at step 1104, the control module1002 determines that a lubrication service operation has been stored inthe fluid service operation schedule 1022C and that the period ofinactivity exceeds the predetermined level. At step 1106, the designatedpump 1004, 1006, 1008 may be activated to perform a fluid operationand/or to lubricate at least a portion of the machine fluid system inaccordance with a desired amount, duration, and/or type of fluidoperation. At step 1108, the control module 1002 may deactivate the pump1004, 1006, 1008 and discontinue the lubrication process or other fluidoperation. The control module 1002 may be further programmed to activateor awaken one or more power systems of the machine as needed to activatethe designated pump 1004, 1006, 1008. Also, data associated withperformance of such a fluid maintenance operation or lubrication process(time, date, cycle time, engine condition, or many others) may berecorded in one or more data storage media 1024.

In various embodiments, certain types of machine data 1022B may beemployed by the fluid maintenance system 1022 and/or the control module1002 in performing fluid maintenance operations. Examples of machinedata 1022B include the various types of data shown in FIG. 11. In otherexamples, the machine data 1022B may include historical data (e.g., ahistory of oil changes—machines that have had more frequent oil changesmay require less fluid maintenance). Also, trending machine data 1022Bmay be analyzed to determine when to perform a fluid maintenanceoperation. For example, if the fuel consumption rate of a machine istrending in an unacceptable direction, then a fluid maintenanceoperation may be scheduled on the fluid service operation schedule 1022Cto attempt to affect the negatively trending fuel consumption rate.

In certain embodiments, operation of the system 1001 to perform fluidmaintenance operations may be assisted or driven by analyzing one ormore triggering conditions as previously described hereinabove. Forexample, the control module 1002 may be programmed to determine that afluid contaminant level had been unacceptably high as of the last timethat a machine had been activated. An algorithm or other computer logicmay be provided within the maintenance lubrication system 1022 toschedule a fluid evacuation when an threshold period of time passesafter the time that the machine was last activated with the unacceptablyhigh level of fluid contaminants. In other words, for example and by wayof illustration, if the contaminated fluid is evacuated within a monthfrom the last time that the machine had been activated, then a fluidmaintenance operation need not be added to the fluid service operationschedule 1022C; however, if the contaminated fluid is not evacuatedwithin a three-month threshold time period from the last time that themachine had been activated, then an appropriate fluid maintenanceoperation can be added to the fluid service operation schedule 1022C.Examples of fluid maintenance operations may include lubrication,pre-lubrication, post-lubrication, evacuation, refill, purge, recyclingfluid, circulating fluid, and/or many others associated with variousportions of the machine fluid system. In certain embodiments, periodicfluid maintenance operations may be added to the fluid service operationschedule 1022C either in connection with or independent of the machinedata 1022B.

It can be appreciated that fluid maintenance operations may beespecially important for machines such as backup generators that areonly activated during an emergency or crisis situation. Accordingly, theembodiments described herein can be applied to many types of machinesthat may not be activated frequently but which need to activate properlywhen called into service.

FIG. 12 includes an electrical schematic illustrating aspects of theelectrical operation of an example of a fluid control system configuredin accordance with various embodiments of the invention. In variousembodiments, the fluid control system may be employed to perform one ormore types of post-lubrication fluid operations, among other types offluid operations.

In the example shown, a fluid control system 1201 may include a controlmodule 1202 (referred to in this example as a post lube sequencer)configured for operative interaction with one or more fluid controlcircuits 1204, 1206 (e.g., in this example, these are prelubricationcontrol circuits) operatively associated with a fluid system (e.g., aprelubrication fluid system) of a machine. The control module 1202 canbe programmed to receive signals indicative of certain triggeringconditions or other engine conditions (such as from one or more sensorsor other sensing means installed within a machine). When a triggeringcondition, machine condition, or engine condition is sensed within aportion of a machine—such as the fluid system associated with themachine engine or its components (e.g., turbocharger)—the control module1202 can communicate command instructions to one or more of the fluidcontrol circuits 1204, 1206 to cause a fluid system to initiate apost-lubrication fluid operation, such as performing a circulating orrecycling fluid operation for the machine, for example. In certainembodiments, the fluid maintenance system 1201 may be configured tooperate on a 12V or 24V DC electrical system, for example.

In one example, the control module 1202 may receive a signal indicativeof a temperature exceeding a certain threshold and/or a signalindicative that the engine of the machine has been powered down. In thissituation, the control module 1202 can be programmed to communicatesignals to one or more of the fluid control circuits 1204, 1206 toinitiate a circulating or recycling fluid operation. It can be seen thatsuch a post-lubrication fluid operation can be performed to keep fluidcirculating through a turbocharger (or other engine or machinecomponent) at a high temperature, so that the fluid does not remain longenough in the same location in the fluid system to be heated to thetemperature at which the fluid begins to break down and form varnish orcoke in the oil passages. In certain embodiments, the post-lubricationfluid operation may be configured to activate one or more pumps of themachine to keep fluid flowing until the turbocharger (or other engine ormachine components) can be sufficiently cooled to a predeterminedacceptable level. In certain embodiments, activation of one or morepost-lubrication fluid processes may occur automatically under thedirection of the control module 1202, for example, and may not requireany affirmative action on the part of a machine operator.

In certain embodiments, and depending on the pump run time necessary tocool the fluid to acceptable levels, the control module 1202 may beconfigured to direct a pump to run for a predetermined active cycle time(e.g., 10 seconds), to direct the pump to shut down for an interim timeperiod (e.g., 50 seconds), and/or to direct the pump to resume runningfor an another predetermined active cycle time (e.g., another 10seconds). It can be seen that this alternating of active cycle time andinterim cycle time periods for running the pump may avoid overheatingthe pump motor, for example, or other pump components. Another benefitto such alternately cycled post-lubrication fluid processes is limitingpower drain associated with one or more power supplies or batteries ofthe machine.

In certain embodiments, a post-lubrication fluid operation may beconfigured to not be triggered unless the machine has been active for asufficiently long enough time period prior to shut down. This resiststhe need to recycle or circulate fluid when the turbocharger of anengine, for example, has not achieved a sufficiently high temperature.In certain embodiments, a thermal switch or other sensor may be used todetermine machine component temperature (e.g., turbocharger temperature)as a triggering condition for determining the cycle time of thepost-lubrication fluid operation.

In certain embodiments, a post-lubrication fluid operation may beemployed to lubricate machine or engine components (e.g., the shaft of aturbocharger) as the components slow their rotation during machine shutdown. It certain engine operations, a turbocharger, for example, maytake six to seven seconds to stop rotating when the engine is powereddown from an idling state. In connection with using a post-lubricationfluid process, however, the turbocharger may take about 20 seconds tostop rotating from an idling state in the presence of fluid, or about 60seconds to stop rotating from a faster idling state or at full speedunder a loaded condition. It can be seen that post-lubrication fluidprocesses provide an opportunity for enhanced lubrication of machine orengine components.

In various embodiments, one or more triggering conditions or machineconditions described herein may be used to determine a cycle time forthe post-lubrication fluid operation. Examples of factors or conditionsthat may affect post-lubrication cycle time include, without limitation,engine oil temperature, coolant temperature, throttle position, and/orboost level, among others.

It can be appreciated that post-lubrication fluid operations provide away for circulating oil as a form of heat exchange, rather than idlingthe machine, for example, by traditional means. For example, idling anengine unnecessarily consumers fuel, adds emissions or contaminants tothe environment, and increases wear on machine components reducing theiruseful life. This likewise reduces maintenance costs and the costsassociated with replacing worn or damaged components. Post-lubricationfluid operations offer an alternative to prolonged machine idling andcan assist with engine component cooling, for example. It can be seenthat the various post-lubrication fluid processes described herein areapplicable to various embodiments of other machines, fluid systems,valve assemblies, sensors, or control modules described herein.

Various aspects of the following disclosure include operational examplesfor the various system and method embodiments described herein. It canbe appreciated that such operational examples are provided merely forconvenience of disclosure, and that no particular aspect or aspects ofthese operational examples are intended to limit the scope ofapplication of the present systems and methods.

Where applicable and operational in the context of various embodimentsof valve assemblies and systems described herein, one or more valves maybe in a normally closed or normally open position prior to, during, orafter performance of a particular fluid operation. In addition, one ormore types of valves may be employed in certain embodiments of thepresent systems and methods (e.g., a reasonable combination of checkvalves and/or electronic valves may be employed).

It can be appreciated that, where applicable and operational in thecontext of various embodiments of valve assemblies and systems describedherein, performing a refill fluid operation to a pre-filter portion of afluid system improves filtration of the refill fluid. In variousembodiments, the refill fluid encounters at least one filter, forexample, before the refill fluid encounters various other operativecomponents of the fluid system.

Data can be communicated with the control modules to and/or from a fluidsystem through a variety of methods and systems. In various embodimentsdisclosed herein, data may be communicated, for example, by a wirelineconnection, communicated by satellite communications, cellularcommunications, infrared and/or communicated in accordance with awireless or radio frequency communication protocol among other similartypes of communication methods and systems. One or more data devices canbe employed in operative association with the control modules for thepurpose of receiving, processing, inputting and/or storing data and/orfor cooperating with the control modules to control, monitor orotherwise manipulate one or more components included within a fluidsystem.

In one illustrative example, information related to an oil filter purgeoperation, such as the date and time of the filter purge or the cycletime of the filter purge, for example, and/or other machine conditionscan be recorded and processed in connection with operation of thecontrol modules. In addition, the condition (e.g., open or closed) ofvarious valve inlets and outlets, and the date/time at which they areactuated, may be detected, recorded and/or analyzed for various fluidoperations. In accordance with the systems and methods disclosed herein,data may be collected and recorded on a reservoir-by-reservoir basisand/or on a fluid system-by-fluid system basis as service is performedon a machine, for example.

It should be appreciated that all the figures are presented forillustrative purposes and not as construction drawings. Omitted detailsand modifications or alternative embodiments are within the purview ofpersons of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, whereas particularembodiments of the invention have been described herein for the purposeof illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting thesame, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art thatnumerous variations of the details, materials and arrangement of partsmay be made within the principle and scope of the invention withoutdeparting from the invention as described in the appended claims.

The examples presented herein are intended to illustrate potential andspecific implementations of the present invention. It can be appreciatedthat the examples are intended primarily for purposes of illustration ofthe invention for those skilled in the art. No particular aspect oraspects of the examples are necessarily intended to limit the scope ofthe present invention.

Any element expressed herein as a means for performing a specifiedfunction is intended to encompass any way of performing that functionincluding, for example, a combination of elements that performs thatfunction. Furthermore the invention, as may be defined by suchmeans-plus-function claims, resides in the fact that the functionalitiesprovided by the various recited means are combined and brought togetherin a manner as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, any means thatcan provide such functionalities may be considered equivalents to themeans shown herein.

In various embodiments, modules or software can be used to practicecertain aspects of the invention. For example, software-as-a-service(SaaS) models or application service provider (ASP) models may beemployed as software application delivery models to communicate softwareapplications to clients or other users. Such software applications canbe downloaded through an Internet connection, for example, and operatedeither independently (e.g., downloaded to a laptop or desktop computersystem) or through a third-party service provider (e.g., accessedthrough a third-party web site). In addition, cloud computing techniquesmay be employed in connection with various embodiments of the invention.In certain embodiments, a “module” may include software, firmware,hardware, or any reasonable combination thereof.

Moreover, the processes associated with the present embodiments may beexecuted by programmable equipment, such as computers. Software or othersets of instructions that may be employed to cause programmableequipment to execute the processes may be stored in any storage device,such as, for example, a computer system (non-volatile) memory, anoptical disk, magnetic tape, or magnetic disk. Furthermore, some of theprocesses may be programmed when the computer system is manufactured orvia a computer-readable memory medium.

It can also be appreciated that certain process aspects described hereinmay be performed using instructions stored on a computer-readable memorymedium or media that direct a computer or computer system to performprocess steps. A computer-readable medium may include, for example,memory devices such as diskettes, compact discs of both read-only andread/write varieties, optical disk drives, and hard disk drives. Acomputer-readable medium may also include memory storage that may bephysical, virtual, permanent, temporary, semi-permanent and/orsemi-temporary.

A “computer,” “computer system,” or “processor” may be, for example andwithout limitation, a processor, microcomputer, minicomputer, server,mainframe, laptop, personal data assistant (PDA), wireless e-maildevice, cellular phone, pager, processor, fax machine, scanner, or anyother programmable device configured to transmit and/or receive dataover a network. Computer systems and computer-based devices disclosedherein may include memory for storing certain software applications usedin obtaining, processing, and communicating information. It can beappreciated that such memory may be internal or external with respect tooperation of the disclosed embodiments. The memory may also include anymeans for storing software, including a hard disk, an optical disk,floppy disk, ROM (read only memory), RAM (random access memory), PROM(programmable ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable PROM) and/or othercomputer-readable memory media. In various embodiments, a “host,”“engine,” “updater,” “loader,” “filter,” “platform,” or “component” mayinclude various computers or computer systems, or may include areasonable combination of software, firmware, and/or hardware.

In various embodiments of the present invention, a single component maybe replaced by multiple components, and multiple components may bereplaced by a single component, to perform a given function orfunctions. Except where such substitution would not be operative topractice embodiments of the present invention, such substitution iswithin the scope of the present invention. Any of the servers describedherein, for example, may be replaced by a “server farm” or othergrouping of networked servers (e.g., a group of server blades) that arelocated and configured for cooperative functions. It can be appreciatedthat a server farm may serve to distribute workload between/amongindividual components of the farm and may expedite computing processesby harnessing the collective and cooperative power of multiple servers.Such server farms may employ load-balancing software that accomplishestasks such as, for example, tracking demand for processing power fromdifferent machines, prioritizing and scheduling tasks based on networkdemand, and/or providing backup contingency in the event of componentfailure or reduction in operability.

In general, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art thatvarious embodiments described herein, or components or parts thereof,may be implemented in many different embodiments of software, firmware,and/or hardware, or modules thereof. The software code or specializedcontrol hardware used to implement some of the present embodiments isnot limiting of the present invention. For example, the embodimentsdescribed hereinabove may be implemented in computer software using anysuitable computer programming language such as .NET, SQL, MySQL, or HTMLusing, for example, conventional or object-oriented techniques.Programming languages for computer software and othercomputer-implemented instructions may be translated into machinelanguage by a compiler or an assembler before execution and/or may betranslated directly at run time by an interpreter. Examples of assemblylanguages include ARM, MIPS, and x86; examples of high level languagesinclude Ada, BASIC, C, C++, C#, COBOL, Fortran, Java, Lisp, Pascal,Object Pascal; and examples of scripting languages include Bournescript, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, and Perl. Various embodiments maybe employed in a Lotus Notes environment, for example. Such software maybe stored on any type of suitable computer-readable medium or media suchas, for example, a magnetic or optical storage medium. Thus, theoperation and behavior of the embodiments are described without specificreference to the actual software code or specialized hardwarecomponents. The absence of such specific references is feasible becauseit is clearly understood that artisans of ordinary skill would be ableto design software and control hardware to implement the embodiments ofthe present invention based on the description herein with only areasonable effort and without undue experimentation.

Various embodiments of the systems and methods described herein mayemploy one or more electronic computer networks to promote communicationamong different components, transfer data, or to share resources andinformation. Such computer networks can be classified according to thehardware and software technology that is used to interconnect thedevices in the network, such as optical fiber, Ethernet, wireless LAN,HomePNA, power line communication or G.hn. The computer networks mayalso be embodied as one or more of the following types of networks:local area network (LAN); metropolitan area network (MAN); wide areanetwork (WAN); virtual private network (VPN); storage area network(SAN); or global area network (GAN), among other network varieties.

For example, a WAN computer network may cover a broad area by linkingcommunications across metropolitan, regional, or national boundaries.The network may use routers and/or public communication links. One typeof data communication network may cover a relatively broad geographicarea (e.g., city-to-city or country-to-country) which uses transmissionfacilities provided by common carriers, such as telephone serviceproviders. In another example, a GAN computer network may support mobilecommunications across multiple wireless LANs or satellite networks. Inanother example, a VPN computer network may include links between nodescarried by open connections or virtual circuits in another network(e.g., the Internet) instead of by physical wires. The link-layerprotocols of the VPN can be tunneled through the other network. One VPNapplication can promote secure communications through the Internet. TheVPN can also be used to separately and securely conduct the traffic ofdifferent user communities over an underlying network. The VPN mayprovide users with the virtual experience of accessing the networkthrough an IP address location other than the actual IP address whichconnects the access device to the network.

The computer network may be characterized based on functionalrelationships among the elements or components of the network, such asactive networking, client-server, or peer-to-peer functionalarchitecture. The computer network may be classified according tonetwork topology, such as bus network, star network, ring network, meshnetwork, star-bus network, or hierarchical topology network, forexample. The computer network may also be classified based on the methodemployed for data communication, such as digital and analog networks.

Embodiments described herein may employ internetworking for connectingtwo or more distinct electronic computer networks or network segmentsthrough a common routing technology. The type of internetwork employedmay depend on administration and/or participation in the internetwork.Non-limiting examples of internetworks include intranet, extranet, andInternet. Intranets and extranets may or may not have connections to theInternet. If connected to the Internet, the intranet or extranet may beprotected with appropriate authentication technology or other securitymeasures. As applied herein, an intranet can be a group of networkswhich employ Internet Protocol, web browsers and/or file transferapplications, under common control by an administrative entity. Such anadministrative entity could restrict access to the intranet to onlyauthorized users, for example, or another internal network of anorganization or commercial entity. As applied herein, an extranet mayinclude a network or internetwork generally limited to a primaryorganization or entity, but which also has limited connections to thenetworks of one or more other trusted organizations or entities (e.g.,customers of an entity may be given access an intranet of the entitythereby creating an extranet).

Computer networks may include hardware elements to interconnect networknodes, such as network interface cards (NICs) or Ethernet cards,repeaters, bridges, hubs, switches, routers, and other like components.Such elements may be physically wired for communication and/or dataconnections may be provided with microwave links (e.g., IEEE 802.12) orfiber optics, for example. A network card, network adapter or NIC can bedesigned to allow computers to communicate over the computer network byproviding physical access to a network and an addressing system throughthe use of MAC addresses, for example. A repeater can be embodied as anelectronic device that receives and retransmits a communicated signal ata boosted power level to allow the signal to cover a telecommunicationdistance with reduced degradation. A network bridge can be configured toconnect multiple network segments at the data link layer of a computernetwork while learning which addresses can be reached through whichspecific ports of the network. In the network, the bridge may associatea port with an address and then send traffic for that address only tothat port. In various embodiments, local bridges may be employed todirectly connect local area networks (LANs); remote bridges can be usedto create a wide area network (WAN) link between LANs; and/or, wirelessbridges can be used to connect LANs and/or to connect remote stations toLANs.

In various embodiments, a hub may be employed which contains multipleports. For example, when a data packet arrives at one port of a hub, thepacket can be copied unmodified to all ports of the hub fortransmission. A network switch or other devices that forward and filterOSI layer 2 datagrams between ports based on MAC addresses in datapackets can also be used. A switch can possess multiple ports, such thatmost of the network is connected directly to the switch, or anotherswitch that is in turn connected to a switch. The term “switch” can alsoinclude routers and bridges, as well as other devices that distributedata traffic by application content (e.g., a Web URL identifier).Switches may operate at one or more OSI model layers, includingphysical, data link, network, or transport (i.e., end-to-end). A devicethat operates simultaneously at more than one of these layers can beconsidered a multilayer switch. In certain embodiments, routers or otherlike networking devices may be used to forward data packets betweennetworks using headers and forwarding tables to determine an optimumpath through which to transmit the packets.

As employed herein, an application server may be a server that hosts anAPI to expose business logic and business processes for use by otherapplications. Examples of application servers include J2EE or Java EE 5application servers including Web Sphere Application Server. Otherexamples include Web Sphere Application Server Community Edition (IBM),Sybase Enterprise Application Server (Sybase Inc), WebLogic Server(BEA), JBoss (Red Hat), JRun (Adobe Systems), Apache Geronimo (ApacheSoftware Foundation), Oracle OC4J (Oracle Corporation), Sun Java SystemApplication Server (Sun Microsystems), and SAP Netweaver AS (ABAP/Java).Also, application servers may be provided in accordance with the .NETframework, including the Windows Communication Foundation, .NETRemoting, ADO.NET, and ASP.NET among several other components. Forexample, a Java Server Page (JSP) is a servlet that executes in a webcontainer which is functionally equivalent to CGI scripts. JSPs can beused to create HTML pages by embedding references to the server logicwithin the page. The application servers may mainly serve web-basedapplications, while other servers can perform as session initiationprotocol servers, for instance, or work with telephony networks.Specifications for enterprise application integration andservice-oriented architecture can be designed to connect many differentcomputer network elements. Such specifications include BusinessApplication Programming Interface, Web Services Interoperability, andJava EE Connector Architecture.

In various embodiments, computers and computer systems described hereinmay have the following main components: arithmetic and logic unit (ALU),control unit, memory, and input and output devices (I/O devices). Thesecomponents can be interconnected by busses, often comprising groups ofwires or cables. The control unit, ALU, registers, and basic I/O (andoften other hardware closely linked with these sections) can becollectively considered a central processing unit (CPU) for the computersystem. The CPU may be constructed on a single integrated circuit ormicroprocessor. The control unit (control system or central controller)directs the various components of a computer system. The control systemdecodes each instruction in a computer program and turns it into aseries of control signals that operate other components of the computersystem. To enhance performance or efficiency of operation, the controlsystem may alter the order of instructions. One component of the controlunit is the program counter, a memory register that tracks the locationin memory from which the next instruction is to be read.

The ALU is capable of performing arithmetic and logic operations. Theset of arithmetic operations that a particular ALU supports may belimited to adding and subtracting or might include multiplying ordividing, trigonometry functions (sine, cosine, etc.) and square roots.Some may be programmed to operate on whole numbers (integers), whileothers use floating point to represent real numbers, for example. An ALUmay also compare numbers and return Boolean truth values (e.g., true orfalse). Superscalar computers may contain multiple ALUs to facilitateprocessing multiple instructions at the same time. For example, graphicsprocessors and computers with SIMD and MIMD features often possess ALUsthat can perform arithmetic operations on vectors and matrices. Certaincomputer systems may include one or more RAM cache memories configuredto move more frequently needed data into the cache automatically.

Embodiments described herein may divide functions between separate CPUs,creating a multiprocessing configuration. For example, multiprocessorand multi-core (multiple CPUs on a single integrated circuit) computersystems with co-processing capabilities may be employed. Also,multitasking may be employed as a computer processing technique tohandle simultaneous execution of multiple computer programs.

In various embodiments, the computer systems, data transmission devices,data storage media, or modules described herein may be configured and/orprogrammed to include one or more of the above-described electronic,computer-based elements and components, or computer architecture. Inaddition, these elements and components may be particularly configuredto execute the various rules, algorithms, programs, processes, andmethod steps described herein.

While the present embodiments have been principally described inrelation to engines, it will be recognized that the invention is alsouseful in a wide variety of other types of machines. For example, use ofthe different embodiments in automotive applications is contemplated,such as in connection with automotive engines. Therefore, whereasparticular embodiments of the invention have been described herein forthe purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose oflimiting the same, it can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill inthe art that numerous variations of the details, materials andarrangement of parts may be made within the principle and scope of theinvention without departing from the invention as described in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for controlling a post-lubrication fluidoperation of a machine, the system comprising: at least one pump of themachine; a fluid maintenance system comprising: at least one memorydevice; and at least one processor configured to access the memorydevice, wherein the memory device stores machine data and a fluidoperation service schedule; and a control system electrically coupled tothe at least one pump and the fluid maintenance system, wherein thecontrol system comprises at least one processor and is configured tocontrol the post-lubrication operation of the machine based on at leastone of the following: the machine data; and the fluid operation serviceschedule.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one pumpcomprises at least one of a main machine pump, a supplemental pump, anda fluid reservoir pump.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the machinedata comprises historical machine data.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein the historical machine data comprises a history of fluid changesassociated with the machine.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein themachine data comprises trending machine data.
 6. The system of claim 5,wherein the trending machine data comprises a fuel consumption rate ofthe machine.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine datacomprises at least one of the following: fluid pressure data; enginespeed data; fluid temperature data; fluid contaminant level data; andfuel injection timing data.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein themachine data comprises a temperature of a component of the machine. 9.The system of claim 1, wherein the machine data comprises an indicationof a powered down condition of the machine.
 10. The system of claim 1,wherein the control system further comprises a control circuitelectrically coupled to: the at least one processor of the controlsystem; and the at least one pump of the machine.
 11. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one sensor electrically coupled tothe control system.
 12. A system, comprising: at least one pump of amachine; a fluid system comprising: at least one memory device; and atleast one processor configured to access the memory device, wherein thememory device stores machine data and a fluid operation serviceschedule; and a control system electrically coupled to the fluid systemand the at least one pump of the machine, wherein the control systemcomprises a control module and is configured for activating the at leastone pump to perform a post-lubrication operation of the machine based onat least one of the following: the machine data; and the fluid operationservice schedule.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least onepump comprises at least one of a main machine pump, a supplemental pump,and a fluid reservoir pump.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein themachine data comprises at least one of the following: historical machinedata; trending machine data; temperature data associated with acomponent of the machine; and an indication of a powered down conditionof the machine.
 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the control systemfurther comprises a control circuit electrically coupled to the at leastone pump of the machine and the control module.
 16. The system of claim12, wherein the control module is configured to utilize one or morepower systems of the machine to activate the at least one pump of themachine.
 17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a data storagedevice electrically coupled to the control module.
 18. The system ofclaim 12, further comprising at least one sensor electrically coupled tothe control system.
 19. A system, comprising: at least one pump of amachine; a fluid system comprising: at least one memory device; and atleast one processor configured to access the memory device, wherein thememory device stores machine data and a fluid operation serviceschedule; and means for activating the at least one pump to perform apost-lubrication operation of the machine based on at least one of thefollowing: the machine data; and the fluid operation service schedule.20. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one pump comprises atleast one of a main machine pump, a supplemental pump, and a fluidreservoir pump.